Oral Health›Everyday care

Cleaning Your Teeth When Gripping Is Hard

Arthritis, a stroke, a hand injury or a condition such as Parkinson's can make it hard to hold a toothbrush or floss. Here are the adaptations health bodies suggest, and who can help.

Updated September 2026·By the OHA editorial team·9 min read·How we write
Key takeaways
  • A wider handle is often the simplest fix: foam tubing, an elastic band or a brush with a thick handle can make a toothbrush easier to hold.
  • An electric toothbrush does much of the movement for you and usually has a thicker handle, but it is heavier than a manual brush.
  • Floss on a handle, interdental brushes and water flossers can be easier than string floss if your fingers are stiff or weak.
  • An occupational therapist can suggest equipment and new ways of doing everyday tasks, and your dental team can advise on brushes and extra fluoride.
  • If you need someone to help, see caring for someone else's teeth.

King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust lists multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, rheumatoid arthritis, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease and stroke among the most common conditions that make looking after teeth and gums harder. Reduced mobility, it explains, can make it hard to open your mouth or to hold a toothbrush and move it to the right places. The Stroke Association says the same of arm weakness after a stroke. For condition-specific advice, see stroke and oral health, Parkinson's disease and oral health and dementia and oral health.

The goal does not change: brush twice a day for about two minutes with a fluoride toothpaste, and clean between your teeth once a day (see how to brush your teeth). What changes is the equipment. Good daily care matters: the UK government's guidance for dental teams, Delivering Better Oral Health, lists adults with physical disabilities among the groups at higher risk of dental disease, and King's College Hospital notes that a dry mouth caused by a condition or its medicines raises the risk of decay (see dry mouth).

How can I make a toothbrush easier to hold?

Make the handle wider

The community dental service at The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust says a wider handle makes gripping easier. Ideas include:

  • Foam tubing slid over the handle, or a ready-made grip (US National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, NIDCR). The Arthritis Foundation (US) suggests the foam insulation sold for small pipes.
  • An elastic or rubber band wrapped around the handle (Arthritis UK, Arthritis Foundation).
  • A tennis or squash ball with a slit cut in it, a bicycle handlebar grip, or a small cloth wrapped around the end (Rotherham trust).
  • A brush sold with a wider handle (Rotherham trust).

If you cannot close your hand around a handle, the Rotherham trust describes a strap that holds the brush against your hand, and says an elastic band can also work. NIDCR advises taking any added grip off and cleaning both the grip and the handle at least once a week, then letting them dry fully.

Make it longer or angled

For people who need a longer handle to reach their mouth, the Rotherham trust suggests adding tubing to the end of the brush, and says brushes already bent to a more useful angle are available.

Would an electric toothbrush help?

Often. The American Dental Association says people with dexterity problems may find a powered brush easier to use, and the Australian Dental Association says your dentist may recommend one if you have trouble holding and controlling a manual brush. The Rotherham trust explains that electric brushes usually have thicker handles and the moving bristles do most of the work, but also that they are heavier than a manual brush. Arthritis UK suggests trying equipment before you buy it.

The sources differ slightly on which type to choose. Wirral Community Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust suggests an electric brush with an oscillating-rotating head, while Delivering Better Oral Health says the evidence is not enough to say that any type of powered brush is better than another. See choosing a toothbrush for what the research shows.

King's College Hospital and NIDCR also mention three-headed brushes, which clean several surfaces at once. Delivering Better Oral Health rates the evidence for them as low to very low certainty, and notes that some people find powered or three-headed brushes difficult or worrying to use.

Getting toothpaste onto the brush

  • Flip-top tubes are easiest, according to the American Stroke Association.
  • A toothpaste squeezer (Arthritis UK) or a toothpaste dispenser (Rotherham trust) can help.
  • One-handed methods. For people with one weak hand after a stroke, the American Stroke Association suggests squeezing toothpaste onto your tongue and then picking up the brush, holding the brush in your teeth while you apply the toothpaste, or holding the brush between the thumb and forefinger of your weak hand.

King's College Hospital advises a pea-sized amount of toothpaste with 1,350 to 1,500 ppm (parts per million) fluoride. Spit out afterwards but do not rinse, so the fluoride stays on your teeth (Stroke Association). If you have swallowing problems, both King's College Hospital and the Stroke Association mention non-foaming toothpaste free of sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS), and the Stroke Association suggests asking your stroke nurse or speech and language therapist for advice.

Setting yourself up

  • Sit down. The Wirral trust suggests sitting at the sink if possible, or using a bowl in bed.
  • Use a mirror and good light, and build brushing into your daily routine (Wirral trust). If your memory is affected, King's College Hospital suggests a sign or a reminder.
  • Keep your joints moving. Arthritis UK says gadgets make tasks easier, but stopping regular movements, however small, could lead to stiffness, so keep exercising your joints in other ways.

Cleaning between your teeth

NIDCR says some people find flossing difficult because of arthritis, and suggests a floss holder (a small tool that holds the floss, so you do not wrap it around your fingers), a floss threader, a water flosser or tiny interdental brushes.

  • Floss on a handle. The Australian Dental Association says a floss pick (flossette) can help adults who have trouble reaching into their mouth or who struggle with string floss.
  • Interdental brushes, tiny brushes on a short handle, can help people who have trouble holding and using floss (Australian Dental Association).
  • Water flossers can be useful if you find other tools hard to work with (American Dental Association).

See cleaning between your teeth for how to use each one.

Dentures and your tongue

The NHS advises cleaning dentures over a sink filled with water, or over something soft such as a towel, because they can break if dropped, and brushing your gums, tongue and any remaining teeth morning and evening. The Stroke Association suggests a soft toothbrush to gently clean your tongue and the inside of your mouth. See dentures and tongue cleaning.

Who can help?

An occupational therapist

healthdirect Australia says an occupational therapist (OT) helps you keep, regain or improve your independence in everyday activities, including using your hands after an injury. Arthritis UK says an OT can help you choose tools and equipment and find easier ways of doing tasks, and the Stroke Association says an OT can advise on adaptations if you struggle to grip your toothbrush. The Arthritis Foundation suggests talking to your dentist or an OT if stiff, painful hands make dental care hard.

  • UK: Arthritis UK says you can ask your doctor to refer you to an OT or refer yourself. In England, the NHS says your local council offers a free needs assessment, and equipment and small adaptations are provided free if you are assessed as needing them.
  • Australia: healthdirect says you do not need a referral to see an OT, but you need one from your doctor to claim costs through a government scheme such as Medicare, the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) or the Department of Veterans' Affairs. Occupational Therapy Australia has a Find an OT service.

Your dental team

Tell your dentist or hygienist that brushing has become hard; the Rotherham trust suggests discussing which brush options suit you, as some cost more than others. They may also offer extra fluoride. King's College Hospital says a dental professional may apply fluoride varnish or prescribe a high-concentration fluoride toothpaste. Delivering Better Oral Health advises UK dental teams to consider fluoride varnish twice a year for adults at higher risk of decay, and a prescription 2,800 or 5,000 ppm toothpaste for those with active decay. In the US, NIDCR says a dentist may apply fluoride varnish or foam for people at high risk, or recommend a fluoride gel or rinse for home. See fluoride explained.

If you cannot get to a surgery, the Stroke Association suggests asking about home visits, which caring for someone else's teeth covers for the UK, Australia and the US.

When to see a dentist
  • Brushing or cleaning between your teeth has become difficult, and you would like advice on adapted brushes or other aids.
  • Your gums bleed when you brush, or are painful and swollen (NHS).
  • Your mouth feels sore or dry, which can make brushing painful (King's College Hospital).
  • Your dentures are hard to take out, clean or put back in.

Frequently asked questions

Is an electric toothbrush better if I have arthritis?

It can be easier. Dental associations in the US and Australia say a powered brush may help if a manual brush is hard to hold or control. They are heavier, though, so try one first if you can.

Can I get equipment for free?

In England, the NHS says equipment and small adaptations are free if a council needs assessment finds you need them. In Australia, healthdirect says Medicare, the NDIS or the Department of Veterans' Affairs may cover some OT costs.

What if I cannot brush my own teeth any more?

Someone else can help, from setting things up to brushing for you: see caring for someone else's teeth.

Sources

  1. Mouth care for people with impaired motor skills or neurological conditions (PDF), King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, accessed September 2026
  2. Toothbrushing tips for people with reduced dexterity, The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust, accessed September 2026
  3. Oral health care for adults requiring assistance: advice for carers (PDF), Wirral Community Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust, accessed September 2026
  4. Dentures (false teeth), NHS, accessed September 2026
  5. Gum disease, NHS, accessed September 2026
  6. Household gadgets and equipment to make life easier, NHS, accessed September 2026
  7. Delivering better oral health, chapter 2: summary guidance tables for dental teams, Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England, accessed September 2026
  8. Delivering better oral health, chapter 8: oral hygiene, Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England, accessed September 2026
  9. Looking after your mouth and teeth (oral hygiene), Stroke Association, accessed September 2026
  10. Aids and adaptations, Arthritis UK (formerly Versus Arthritis), accessed September 2026
  11. Occupational therapy, Arthritis UK, accessed September 2026
  12. Occupational therapy, healthdirect Australia, accessed September 2026
  13. Brushing teeth, Australian Dental Association, accessed September 2026
  14. Flossing, Australian Dental Association, accessed September 2026
  15. Toothbrushes, American Dental Association, accessed September 2026
  16. Flossing, American Dental Association (MouthHealthy), accessed September 2026
  17. Oral hygiene, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, accessed September 2026
  18. Brushing: information for caregivers (PDF), National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, accessed September 2026
  19. Personal care for stroke survivors, American Stroke Association, accessed September 2026
  20. 23 tips to improve life with arthritis, Arthritis Foundation, accessed September 2026
  21. 6 self-care tips for RA, Arthritis Foundation, accessed September 2026

This article is general information about oral health. It is not a diagnosis or a substitute for advice from a dentist or doctor who knows your situation. If you have pain, swelling, bleeding that does not settle, or a problem that is getting worse, see a dental professional. In an emergency, contact your local emergency service.

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